Paul Martin and the whistleblowers at Health Canada

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GRAND-PRE, N.S. -- Health Canada's firing of three high-profile whistleblowers for "insubordination" has nothing to do with the scientists' history of criticizing government policies, says Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"First of all, Health Canada made it very clear at the time that that happened that this had nothing to do with whistleblowing, that their reasons for taking their actions had nothing to do with calling attention to any problem and I certainly accept Health Canada's word on that," said the prime minister, in his first comment on the matter since the three scientists received dismissal letters July 14.

Two of the whistleblowers in particular, Shiv Chopra and Margaret Haydon, spoke out on a series of issues in recent years and have fought a host of legal battles and appeals in light of previous reprimands from Health Canada.

The two scientists originally went public in the 1990s against a bovine growth hormone intended to increase milk production in cows. Chopra and Haydon argued the hormone could cause cancer and the product was never approved.

The third scientist, Gerard Lambert, joined Chopra and Haydon in writing a letter to then-health minister Anne McLellan following the discovery of mad cow disease in Canada. The scientists called for a total ban on animal feeds containing rendered materials of other animals.

A fourth Health Canada scientist, Cris Basudde, also signed the letter, but Basudde died in December.

Following his firing, Chopra received a gold watch and a personalized letter of commendation for his 35-year public service career from Health Canada, a gesture the scientist described as a "humiliation."

Earlier this year as the government introduced new legislation regarding the public disclosure of wrongdoing, Martin pledged the bill would protect whistleblowers. The prime minister also pledged to protect public servants who came forward with information relating to the sponsorship scandal.

However the government's commitment to whistleblower protection first came into question from critics of the legislation, which was never passed into law, who said it did little to protect public servants who speak out.

More questions were raised last month following the firing of the Health Canada scientists. The Conservative MP Paul Poilievre and Sen. Mira Spivak have called for a public inquiry into the matter.

But in spite of the criticism of the government's public disclosure legislation, Martin said Sunday that his government will re-introduce the bill when the new session of Parliament begins in October.

� The Windsor Star 2004

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